BACKTRACKER by Milo Fowler (e book reader txt) 📕

room. It did not take long for hisgaze to reach the sleeping women's exposed flesh. His eyes widened. "Wherethe hell are we?"

"Somehow, I believe only Mr. Lennox himself would be able toanswer that question."

"He said—" The boy's brow furrowed as though he wassorting through a confusing jumble of memories. "He told me...you hadsomething to do with my dad's murder."

Kuan made no reply. He did not blink. He listened to the boy. Andwaited.

"But it was him, I think." Young Harry spokeslowly, near a whisper, as he stared down at the stained carpet. "It washim—Lennox. He killed my dad. I'm sure of it." He sniffed and satup. "So that means he probably lied about you guys. You andyour partner." He met Kuan's gaze. "Right?"

Kuan nodded, crossing his arms and tucking his hands into the generous sleevesof his robe. "We wished you no harm, nor your father."

"Too late for him."

"Yes. I am sorry..." Kuan hesitated. "And I amsorry for taking you against your will—"

"And tying me up."

"And tying you up." Using him as a bartering chip. Kuanwould never forgive himself for that. He had been a fool to think it wouldwork, that there could be any way to exert leverage against a power-hungrymonster. For the good of the many? Lennox cared only for himself, it seemed."Gavin Lennox is a dangerous man, Harry—"

"How do you know my name?" The boy drew back.

"We know many things about you," Kuan said withoutpause. "We have watched over you for years, as you have grown from—"

"I don't want to hear it. None of it." Harry shook hishead sharply as if to clear a ringing in his ears. He jumped to his feet andsidled away from the couch, away from the women, keeping his distance from themonk as well. He backed himself toward the panoramic window. "Just shut upand think of a way to get us out of here." He glanced out the window. Thenhe stared, jaw dropping. "What the...?"

"Welcome to The Pit," Kuan said. "You may wish toavert your eyes. I will never be able to expunge from my memory the brutality Ihave witnessed on that stage."

The boy's gaze remained transfixed, unblinking. "Where thehell are we?"

"The other side, whatever that means. That is what Mr.Lennox called it. But I do not understand how it can be." He thought for amoment. "A cigarette lighter..."

The boy whirled from the glass. "What did you say?"

"Mr. Lennox held a lighter in front of my face and flippedoff the cap. The flame caused the air—"

"Yeah." Harry took a step toward him, hands gesturing."He told me to look into the flame, and I thought I was just seeing things, the way everything rippled."

"He forced me to do the same. The room around uschanged." From sterile white to filth and feculence.

"So what does it mean?" The boy was at a loss, hopingthat somehow the holy man before him would know more than he did.

"I do not know."

"It's got to be some kind of weird...teleportation device,right? A crazy invention or something?" The word invention causedthe boy to lose focus. He stared into space.

"What is it, Harry?" Kuan cautiously closed the gap between them.

"He asked me about a tracking device or something. Before heshowed me the lighter—the flame." He frowned. "But I can't rememberwhat he called it."

"The BackTracker?"

Harry looked up warily. "Yeah." His voice came out dry,guarded. "So what is it? And why does he want it?"

Kuan hesitated. "It is a tool of great power, an invention thatdefies comprehension."

"More than the magical lighter that took us here?"

Kuan smiled. "I am surprised you have not heard of himbefore."

"Who?"

"The BackTracker."

The boy looked confused. "But you said it's an invention."

"Yes. And the man who wields its power is called the same: BackTracker."Kuan shrugged. "Or so I have heard. There has been much speculation abouthim over the years. Brother Yeng and I had many late night conversations..."

The boy shook his head again as though he didn't want to hear anymore. He turned toward the window, looked beyond the stage to the dark foyerbelow where four men had just entered. One of them wore a robe like Kuan's.

"Check out this guy. He's got the same bald look going as youdo, and he's had his plug removed too. He's so white, you can see the scar,even from here." Harry tapped at the side of his neck below his left ear,where his own skin was still too young to carry the subdermal implant. He glancedat the scar under Kuan's ear. "Is he another one of your brothers?"

Kuan watched the albino. "I do not know him."

Two Blackshirts in long coats half-carried, half- dragged therobed man between them, semi-conscious, his face darkened by bruises and oozingblood. He had been worked over with extreme prejudice by the looks of it andhad yet to recover. A taller, bearded Blackshirt strode past them with purpose.He looked to be the one in charge—a captain, perhaps. He beckoned to one of theGeorge lookalikes who came within range and gestured, speaking mutely. Evenwithout the thick pane of glass, Kuan doubted it would have beenpossible to hear him over the noise of the band on stage. He narrowed his gazeand focused on the man's lips. But he could not read the words.

"He's asking for Lennox."

Kuan turned to the boy. "You can—?"

"Yeah." Harry reached up to squeeze his eyebrowstogether. Was his headache getting worse? "I can make out a word here andthere. Must be loud—he's practically yelling at the guy."

Kuan watched the captain as the man gestured toward the batteredalbino, then pointed upward, straight toward the window Kuan stood behind. Heis in a hurry. He wants to leave this place as soon as possible. Kuan couldsympathize with that.

"He says he has to talk to Lennox and..." Harry squinted. "Ididn't catch that last part."

"Perhaps Mr. Lennox is not here."

"You mean he's back where—"

"Where we should be." Kuan met the boy's eyes. So young,yet they had already seen too much. "He will need to explain to MayorReeves why I disappeared from The Pearl." Yeng would be worried sick bynow. "He may not intend to return here,